Seven Days in the World

This week you're reading an excerpt Seven Days in the World. On your blog write a short personal response to what you've read. Any revelations? Surprises? Can you imagine yourself participating in a crit like the one described here

I was surprised when I read how harsh the critiques are at California Institute for the Arts. At Beaver, I think it would be very difficult for us to do such critiques without hurting others' feelings because we are not accustomed to unbiased criticism, especially in high school. In a professional art school setting, I think the students are more prepared for criticism because that is what is to be expected at that level. Being a high school student who will not pursue a life career in making art, I am grateful that our critiques are not as intense. If I were to participate in a critique like that, I would be too self conscious of making others feel as though my comments were a personal attack instead of an honest opinion.

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Plan for the Installation

all of these images are flipped so they look kind of strange

I am going to be 'drawing' the tattoos with different 3D materials as well as using more 3D objects on the body

the stick figure will be a shadow of the person on the wall made out of black cellophane with a teal ribbon on the torso.

legs
torso
head
on the wall
over all view

Surviving the Critique

In your opinion, what do you think the role of the critique, as it's described in this chapter, could be in a class like ours?

The role of a critique is depicted as a terrifying day where artists will be judged. However, I feel like since students in our art class know each other so well and for so long, our critiques will be less stressful. Our first critique was very helpful for me towards my final project. Whenever I get stuck or uninspired I go to my peers or Becki :-) for advice. It was nice to have a structured time for feedback during class rather than trying to find people at random times and disrupting them from their work.

According to this chapter and your past experiences, how can you get the most out of a critique of your own work?

I feel like I can get the most out of a critique if I explain my goal for its meaning in the end and explaining why I have what I have so far. This way my peers can understand the angle at which I am trying to come at and help me with more ideas. Taking notes on their feedback is also helpful because I know I won't remember everything they suggest. This way I can also sort out what feedback I want to use and what feedback I disagree with.

How can you be a helpful participant in your classmates' critiques?

Asking my peers questions about their artwork to really make them think why and how is a helpful way to communicate in critiques. This way it's also easier for me to understand what's going through their minds. It is crucial to give feedback during critiques. In my opinion, nothing is ever perfect if know one else has shared their opinion. It doesn't matter if the artist does anything with the feedback, it's just important that they hear it. I believe that hearing feedback helps artists to grow. I think that giving specific and kind feedback is the most effective way to critique

tape

I am going to put the tape like this coming off of the wall with the person so the reflection in the mirror looks like the above shot

First Critique

my project: Body Installation

Suggestions:

tape body on floor

mirror: in corner

tape outline - layers of paint

3D objects

replicate tattoos with other materials: common theme

material list: matches, candles, ink, paint, wire, pressed flowers, ice melting/dripping water down, buttons (placed like button down shirt), hemp, wood finish-er, shoe polish, bark, wood, cheese cloth, beach glass, zip ties, bullets/casings, handcuffs

knife in wall with 3d butterfly on end like walking the plank - butterfly: dreamcatcher, thread earrings, weaving

first critique

my project: Body Installation

Suggestions:

tape body on floor

mirror: in corner

tape outline - layers of paint

3D objects

replicate tattoos with other materials: common thing

butterfly: dreamcatcher, thread earrings, weaving

Alternative Exhibit Formats

Take another look at the Alternative Exhibition Format slideshow (on the class site). Think about which artist's work was the most interesting to you in terms of format. Make a post and talk about what the artist does with format, and why you think it is interesting, and if you think you might be considering using an alternative exhibit format write about that too.

My favorite artists were Sarah Sze and Kara Walker because their works are physically part of the exhibit. Kara Walker's silhouettes are physically attached to the wall as though they are part of the wall paper. Seeing them in person is amazing because of their life size quality. It almost looks like holes in the wall that some one ran through leaving their imprint (like in the cartoons). I remember having to get up very close to the wall to make sure it was solid and not a tunnel or something.

The photograph of Sarah Sze's work Hidden Relief simply took my breath away. I couldn't figure out what form of media it even was until I played around on her website. Each of her works of art are just so intricate and like nothing I've ever seen before. Just Now Dangled Still, at the Liverpool Bienial in Liverpool, England, is placed against the side of a building.

I am definitely considering using an alternative exhibit format. :-)

Art and Fear

"The fear that you are only pretending to do art is the consequence of doubting your own artistic credentials."

I can definitely think of many times when this quote has applied to me. All of my friends and classmates seem to be the most artists I have ever met (at my age that is). I am constantly seeing their outstanding ability to draw in such great detail, which is one of my weak points. It’s very hard to remember what I thrive at when I’m surrounded by the other artistic styles. It influences me in such a way that I want to be able to do what they do. I need to remember my creativity and not be afraid of the outstanding still life artists.

One of my biggest problems as an artist is getting ahead of myself. So far during senior studio I have only been focused on the final outcome rather than the process. To me the journey is just as fun if not more than the destination and I keep forgetting that.

tree of balance, turtle, stary vines

still experimenting :-)